Paul is an exciting opening batsman who strikes the ball hard and is seen as one of the most talented young cricketers in the world at the moment. In addition he is a useful off spinner, working well in conjunction with George Dockrell on many occasions.

Another of the younger brigade for Ireland, Paul was first capped against UAE in Abu Dhabi in March 2008, aged 17. Since then and up to the conclusion of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, Paul has represented Ireland 111 times.

In those matches he has scored 3,383 runs including 6 centuries. Of those the highest was 177 against Canada at Toronto in 2010. Four of his centuries came in the 16 matches he played in 2011, including one of 113 against the old enemy, Scotland, at Edinburgh.

As a bowler he has taken 43 wickets and has also taken many catches for Ireland, a total of 46 in 111 matches, putting him 12th in the all time list for Irish fielders.

Paul naturally takes to T20 cricket especially well with his devastating strike-rate making him very dangerous at the top of the order. This was especially well highlighted during the qualifiers for the 2012 ICC World T20 where his final three innings, in three must-win games for Ireland, were all crucial - especially his stunning 79 in the final against Afghanistan.

Paul has played his club cricket for Cliftonville, though he is now playing county cricket for Middlesex, whose supporters are now enjoying the all-round package he offers them as he stars regularly in the shorter formats for them at Lord’s. Paul’s father, Brian, is also an International Sportsman, having refereed International Rugby Football.

Cricket Ireland President gives us the inside story on a historic day for Irish cricket as John Mooney led Ireland to a superb win over Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup Final and help crown Trent Johnston's career in the best possible way.

One of the biggest tournaments in the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate Members’ (AM) calendars gets underway tomorrow when the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2013 (WT20Q) commences. Sixteen teams will compete for the six available places in the tournament proper, to be staged in Bangladesh from 16 March to 6 April 2014.

Just 90 minutes play was possible on the second day of Ireland's InterContinental Cup clash with Scotland at Castle Avenue, as persistent rain forced the umpires to call a halt to proceedings at 5:45pm.

Ireland completed back-to-back victories over traditional rivals Scotland as they romped to a seven wickets win on Sunday, to follow up their thrilling last over conquest of their Celtic cousins on Friday.

England were given a probing work-out ahead of the upcoming five-game series with Australia but had captain Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara, who both struck unbeaten centuries, to thank as they survived a big scare to overcome a resilient Ireland side by six wickets in the RSA Challenge at Malahide.

With less than two weeks to go now to the RSA Challenge, Emmett Riordan talks about a certain famous night in Bangalore and gets a very different perspective on March the 2nd 2011 and that infamous Kevin O'Brien innings.

Two of Ireland’s star batsmen today launched the RSA Challenge which will come to Malahide on September 3, as they showed off the RSA Challenge Trophy at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London two months ahead of the big game.

On that famous night in Bangalore, after Kevin O’Brien had launched a staggering counter-attack and smashed England’s potent bowling attack to all four corners, the dust began to settle on another remarkable achievement as another glorious chapter was etched into this country’s cricketing history.

Ireland once again underlined their ability to compete with the heavyweights of world cricket as they came agonisingly close to recording another famous victory over Pakistan but in the end had to settle for a tie in the first One-Day International in Clontarf on Thursday.

Ireland were superb in the field in Sharjah and a gem of an innings from Gary Wilson with a little help from Kevin O'Brien and John Mooney steered Ireland home to send them 4 points clear at the top of the ICC World Cricket League Championship Table.

Two full days play at the superb facilities of the Global Cricket Academy in Dubai will have blown away any of the winter cobwebs for the Ireland squad and it is a vital ten day's cricket ahead now for Ireland in the UAE.

Clontarf has been confirmed as the venue for the RSA Insurance ODI Series between Ireland and Pakistan.The Castle Avenue venue will host both fixtures which will take place on Thursday May 23 and Sunday May 26 (10:45am start).

Max Sorensen and an exciting quartet of youngsters are the major beneficiaries of the 17 contracts announced by Cricket Ireland for the 2013 season, with a further five contracts to be offered in due course.

Middlesex CCC are delighted to announce that Paul Stirling has signed a new three-year contract with the club. The deal means that Stirling will be available to play for Middlesex until at least the end of the 2015 English domestic cricket season.

Paul Stirling has been named as Ireland's RSA International Men's Player of the Year at the inaugural RSA Cricket Ireland Awards. The 22 year old Middlesex all-rounder beat off the challenge of fellow Ireland stars George Dockrell and Ed Joyce to lift the top prize in front of 300 players, officials and guests at the Round Room at the Mansion House.

The short-lists for two of the feature awards at next month's Inaugural RSA Cricket Ireland Awards have been announced. The International Men's and Women's Player of the Year short-lists both feature three stars from Ireland's cricketing year.

Video Highlights of Ireland's seven wicket loss to Australia in the opening match of Group B of the ICC World Twenty 20 on Wednesday in Colombo. Ireland must now re-group ahead of their crucial match against the West Indies on Monday at 3pm Irish time.